Chapter:23

Here you go dear readers another long chapter. This is for all those lovely readers who where asking me for a fast update..

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"All you need to do is tell me if you have any problem. I am always here to help you. So, stop worrying" Coltrane said putting his chin on her head. 

Cassandra froze and her heart skipped a beat. She pushed him away as fast as she could. He looked at her only to notice that her eyes were burning with anger.

"Is this fun for you?" She asked him with drops of tears from her eyes . 

Coltrane looked down, Why did he say that?  But the moment he remembered, he blurted out without thinking just like in the past.

What happened to their relation? Where are not they supposed to be best friends? He knows what exactly happened to their relationship.

It's been so long since he thought this way, since he thought about their friendship.

Cassandra just stood there frozen.

Coltrane stared off, was it because he felt as if he was going to lose her for good this time. Seeing her on the hospital bed so close to death made him realize something.

Something he forgot in the span of 5 years. More than anything was not she is his best friend before all the mess. But he doesn't know where to start or is there even a possibility to start. He shook his head thinking about the past will only bring unnecessary problems.

Cassandra looked down after hearing those words. The same words which make her fall in love with him. For the first time someone told her that she could rely on them. Someone other than her grandma cared about her.She doesn't need to fight alone. The reassuring words gave her courage at that time. Now felt nothing except a bittersweet memory. How naive she was! But now she felt hollow. Those words were hollow.

"Why are you out here with a backpack?" Coltrane asked her trying to distract himself. She blinked her eyes trying to come back to the present.

"I wanted to get some fresh air," Cassandra lied. It's  not like he will know.

"You are lying," Coltrane stated as a fact.

"I am not," Cassandra turned to him, staring at his grey eyes. Trying to prove herself, her eyes shine with something dangerous. 

"Yes you are" Coltrane nodded his head.

"If you don't have anywhere to go,Come with me" he said uncertainty was evident in his voice.

"No, I want to stay alone," Cassandra said coldly, her words making him uneasy. 

"Where are you going to stay then?" Coltrane asked her.

Cassandra looked away, the first thought was what he exactly wanted from her? Does he want her to be a replacement again?  Does he still want more,even though she has nothing to give. Or, does he want a show piece?

"Why?" Cassandra asked.

"Why what?" Coltrane blinked his eyes. Why? That's a question he wants to ask himself.

"Why are you offering me a place to stay?" Cassandra stared at him. 

Coltrane would be lying if he said he was not shocked at his own offer. He was not prepared to answer  that. Why?  He could say something cold again but is it worth it? Has he not hurt her enough?

"Do you want me to pretend that I am Catherine?" Cassandra asked him to freeze him.

No not once he thought about that while offering her to stay.

'No' just that he needs to say just that but for some reason the words remain stuck in his mouth. Now he is wandering himself about that.

'It's not a bad deal,Right?' Cassandra mocked to herself.  She pretended to be Catherine and slept with him. After all that she does not have the right to deny that. She gave up herself, her self respect the moment she slept with him. She knows that better than anyone. All she needs to do is act like Catherine. 

"I promised that I will stay with you. I am just going to keep that" Coltrane said rubbing his head.

"No, I don't need you to be mine" Cassandra said coldly.

"I will pretend to be Catherine"  she looked straight in his eyes, he stiffen up a cold shiver ran down his spine.

"I did not ask you for that" He said the words she wanted to hear for a long time but now it doesn't matter not to her at least.

"All you need to do is pay for it," Cassandra said coldly.

"What?" Coltrane gasped.

"Pay me I will do it. I will pretend to be her" She said not showing how much her own words bothered her…

"Okay," Coltrane said, nodding his head.

Why? Why the fuck did he said okay? 

The truth is he has a feeling if he denies her offer she will walk out of here.

"Let's go then" Cassandra stood up but Coltrane grabbed her hand stopping her from moving. He even though he wanted to make her understand that he has no intention to use her as Catherine but deep down even he does not know what he wants.

Can he ever love anyone else other than Catherine? Is she giving him an easy way out of his promise?

Coltrane opened the back door for her. Cassandra silently took a seat. She sighed her eyes closed.

What was she thinking? Making a deal out of her life. She mocked herself at that. After all the emotion broke down she felt exhausted. She fell asleep.

The drive was silent as Coltrane tried to think about the subject he wanted to ask. By the time he reaches the house. He noticed the car ride was too silent. 

"Cassandra, we are here" he bit his lips as she was sleeping peacefully. He sighed, she must be exhausted after all that happened today. He needs to wait before he could talk to her. He slowly pulled her up in his arms and made his way to the spare bedroom. 

Coltrane covers her with the duvet. His eyes land on the trail  of tears. He looked down and left her there. He poured himself a glass of wine. After drinking a bit he went to his room to sleep.

A 5 years old girl was smiling bright at her grandmother.

"From today onward. You will be Catherine" her grandma said the words. She blinked at her.

"What are you saying?" The five year old gave her a confused look.

"I will explain to her mother" Mrs. Walmart glared down at her with hatred.

"Because of you and your fucking mother I have given a premature birth. My daughter is weak and sickly. So, you will compensate for that by your own identify" 

"Com-pen-sa-te?" She blinked.

"What are you an idiot?" Before her mother could slap her grandma came to her rescue.

"It's ok I will explain it to her. You can go"  

"Sweety People will call you Catherine and You need to respond to that" her grandma pat her head.

"Why? Why will they call me sister's name?" Her innocent eyes looked at her grandma for answers. But tears are the only answer she gets.

"Because you should not have existed. You own mother fucking through you away. That's how useless you are"  Mrs. Walmart grabbed her cheeks, almost bruising her. She felt tears pricked her eyes.

"Stop it" The loud booming voice echoed in the room.

"But father" Mrs. Walmart tried to speak but the glare stopped her.

"Not another word, come here sweetheart" the old man opened his arms.

"Grandpa" She ran to him without thinking anything. She hugged him tightly crying because her cheeks hurt. Just like that her protector came. She had no idea that was the last time she got to hug him.

Her grandpa fell down with her in his arms. People around her were screaming but she just hugged him tightly wondering why he stopped hugging her. She hugged him till his body turned cold.

Her grandma was crying. She looked at her from time to time wondering why she was crying? 

But when she lifted her head up she saw him in the pool in his own blood. When he falls down his head must be cracked.

Cassandra jumped up, clutching her head. A sweat drop accumulated on her forehead. She tried to breathe which seemed to escape her. She can feel herself shaking. She stumbles down her bed. Rushing to the nearest door heaving out bile rose up from her stomach. She collapsed. Her hand shook. Tears or sweat she has no idea rolling down her face. 

Cassandra felt suffocated and the unknown surrounding is not helping her at all. She can feel herself panicking. She washed her face with cold water trying to calm her nerves. She has no medicine with her. With much difficulty she got out of the bathroom. 

Slowly she sat in one corner of the room. Breathing seems like a difficult task now. She was feeling that the wall would collapse at any moment. She was shaking and the room was revolving. 

Cassandra looked down, what kind of dream was that but why does it feel so real? She doesn't remember anything about that time. What was that all about? Grandfather, did she even have a grandfather?

Cassandra can feel her headache build up. She needs to get out of here as fast as she can.

The questions are eating away her sanity. She walked out of the room with shaky legs and found the staircase which led to the terrace. She takes a few deep breaths to settle her nerves and sits down on the roof. She stopped shaking at least. At least the open sky would not collapse on her.

That's how Coltrane found her in the dim light of twilight she was sitting and staring far off at what?

"I thought you were sleeping?" Coltrane asked her but only got silence in reply. The feeling he felt seeing her sitting on the rooftop was nostalgic.

Coltrane silently sat down beside her. A bit far away but within arm distance," I can't fall asleep" she replied.

He looked at the dark sky, she was staring at,"me too" he sighed.

This time she turned to look at him, He was silently staring at her.

"Have you considered talking to a psychiatrist?" Cassandra asked as if that's the most normal thing to say.

" No and I don't  need one"  Coltrane looked at her.

"You should try" She said those words as she relaxed and put her nightmare aside.

Coltrane sighed, " Did you really tried to kill you self?" The question he wanted to ask her, and he finally did. She looked away, she felt her throat dried up.

"I did not tried to kill myself" Casandra looked at him to prove that she is not lying. She actually did not try to kill herself, at least not this time.

"I was unconscious when I took those medicines" She looked away, closing her eyes, ending their conversation. Coltrane stared at her, he had his doubts and about the way Austin reacted there was too much to it than she was letting on. And he will find out but for now he is letting her off.

Cassandra opened her eyes and turned to him, he closed his eyes, his body relaxed as a mild wind blowing. Slowly sleep invaded as the tiredness settled in. Coltrane was about to fall when she instinctively supported him with her shoulder.

Slowly steadily he rolled down to her lap and made himself comfortable on her lap. She let him without any words as he snores softly on her lap. She looked down once in a while other than that her eyes were still staring blankly. She knows if she closes her eyes her dream or nightmares will haunt her again. 

Coltrane hugged her pressing his face on her stomach unknowingly. 

She sighed, her body relaxed and she felt safe. For some reason Cassandra believed that her nightmares will stay away as long as she is with him.

Even though he was the reason those nightmares started.

'Delusional' She mocked herself shaking her head.

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Jane was worried sick about Catherine. When she stopped crying she was staring off to nowhere. She needs a happy environment in her condition. The only thing catherien did was eat her food on time and drink water other than that. She did not say much. There were dark circles around her eyes and as a mother Jane knows her weight gaining is irregular. 

"Catherine  sweetheart, Are you alright?" Catherine shook her head.

"I am alright" she said, forcing a smile.

It's almost six hours since Catherine got here, not once she said anything if Jane did not ask her. And once in a while Jane could see a tear trail down her eyes. It's  heartbreaking to see her in this way. 

Jane felt guilty because of her son, Catherine had to go through this.

'Jeremy why are you punishing her for my mistakes?' Jane thought to herself but something horrible clicked her mind, a terrible thought about Jeremy.

"Is he abusing you?" Jane asked Catherine's eyes to widen.

"No" She gasped. Jane sighed putting her hand on her shoulder shaking her head.

"You don't need to lie, dear" Catherine stared at Jane in shock . How could she think about her own son this way?

"He did not. You need to believe in him, Jane" Catherine said but still Jane gave her a look that clearly stated that for some reason she did not believe her.

Catherine looked away, keeping  her mouth shut. Jane prepared a light salad and asked her to eat. 

"Why don't you go and take rest?" Jane leads her to Jeremy's room. Catherine sighed and took a seat on his bed. She closed her eyes feeling exhausted even though all she did today was seating in the same place.

Jeremy entered through the door it's almost 9 p.m. His eyes are cold and dark. Jane stares at him as a shiver runs down her spine.

Something is off. Terribly off about him. But she needs to think about Catherine she is pregnant

"Where have you been?" That's the first thing Jane asked him after he opened his heart to her. Off course that does not mean anything to his mother. Jeremy grit his teeth.This is the reason he did not want to meet her.

"I was busy" His reply was cold Jane took a step back but thinking about the innocent girl who cried, she glared at him.

"You have a pregnant wife to take care of. How could you be so careless? Do you know she was upset? What will you do if that affects the baby?" 

"Am I a fuckinh entertainment channel? If she was being childish. What can I do?" He snapped glaring at his mother.

"Jeremy language," Jane snapped glaringly.

"Yes that's the problem of the world," He growled.

"Are you abusing her?" Jane asked.

"Huh???" Jeremy blinked his eyes and he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Is that why you married her?" Jane asked with. 

"Do I need to marry someone to abuse her? And did you forget that I am a lawyer?" Jeremy asked.

"Your father was a lawyer too" Jane glared at him. All the words he said were for nothing.

Jeremy can feel his anger coursed through him. He walked in without saying anything.

"Where is she?" He asked.

"I am asking you something?" Jane said.

"Where is she?" Jeremy yelled this time looking around for her.

"But you can't meet her until you answer my question" Jane glared at him.

"It's fine if I can't meet her. She can stay here for all I care" Jeremy stated coldly, turning to leave when Jane stopped him.

"Wait," She sighed.

Jane can feel her heart sinking, "In your room"

Jeremy made his way to his room which was kept the same way he left. His eyes landed on the lady sleeping on his bed peacefully. He breathed in, the trail of dried tears made him feel a bit guilty. But she lied and she knew how much he hated lies. Her face looks paler than before.

"Did you see what you did to her?" Jane said. Jeremy turned to her.

"Did you marry her to take revenge on me? Because I forced you, If you are only going to hurt her then you should not have married her only to prove a point" Jeremy clenched his fist and turned to her.

"You are the right mother. I did marry her because you forced me too but what I do to her is none of your fucking business"Jeremy yelled. 

"She is pregnant you do know. She is having your baby. Are you going to treat him or her like that too?" Jane yelled, slapping him across his face.

"Yes I will. Do you hear me?"

"Let's get  this as straight as humanly possible, I will never accept him or her. Do you hear me never" Jeremy said coldly and turned around angrily only to froze. Catherine looked at him, with tears filled eyes.

His words had hurt her. Her eyes filled him with tears only amplified his anger. 

"Why?" Catherine asked, blinking her eyes. Jane walked up to her wrapping her arm around her. 

"Stop crying damn it" Jane jumped her eyes widened. Catherine flinched away.

Jane rubbed her head trying to ease her and glare, "Stop it. Jeremy"

"Why are you behaving like this?" Catherine asked as those tears fell from her eyes.

Jane stares at the girl, almost feeling pity for her that she married Jeremy. It was her fault that she was in this situation. She sighed.

"Jeremy come back when you are calm enough to handle this situation. Go right now" Jane said. Catherine stilled in her arms hearing those words.

"I am calm enough Mother" Jeremy glared at Catherine.

"Do you really think tears will get you anywhere?" Jeremy asked her coldly.

"I want answers Jeremy," Catherine said, getting out of Jane's arms.

"Answers?" He mocked her as he walked closer to her.

"You are the one who should have fucking answered when I give you the chance" Catherine flinched a bit before staring right back at him.

"You are coming with me"Jeremy turned to leave but Catherine rooted to her spot.

"Didn't you hear what I said?" Jermey and walked straight to where she was standing towering over her.

"I want answers before that I am not going anywhere with you" Catherine said as another tear fall from her eyes 

"She is coming with me" Jeremy said those words gritting his teeth he grabbed her hand.

"Do you want me to drag you out that won't be good for you?" Catherine's eyes widen.

"Let me go, Jermey" she struggled to get out of his grip. Jane looked at him horrified as Catherine struggled.

"What happened to my son?" Jane asked, trying to get between them.

"Let's go," Jeremy ordered her,  leaving her hand. But Catharine shook her head. Even though she wanted to see him the most. She would not  go with him when he was looking at her with hatred.

"Jeremy" Jane looked at him and her eyes softened.

"Don't force her to go. Let her rest here. Why don't you stay here if you don't want to go?" She tried to explain him softly. Jeremy's eyes turn emotionless. 

"Let's go," Jeremy glared at Catherine.

"Jeremy, I don't want to " She looked at him. 

"Catherine I am warning you. Will you come with or stay here forever?I won't ever come for you" Jeremy grit his teeth. Catherine's eyes widened as she gasped at his words.

"She is pregnant. You can't force her" Jane said holding Catherine's hand tightly.

Catherine stilled her heart ache and she went with what he said going against her better judgment before removing Jane's arm.

Jane felt her heart break looking at the man who was her son turning into a monster. Jeremy was never this cold what happened to her sweet boy.

"Catherine?" Jane asked.

"I am fine,  It's better if I go with him" Catherine smiled at her forcefully as a tear trailed down her eyes. Jeremy grabbed her hand tightly before dragging her with him. She almost stumbled when he picked her up in his arms.  He walked back to his car, settling her down and driving away from  there.

Catherine stayed silent throughout the journey. Once in a while a tear rolled down her cheeks. 

He was fuming in anger.

She felt terrified as if something bad is about to happen.Not once Catherine looked at him.

"I told you not to cry"  Jeremy stopped the car in front of a diner and slammed the door before warning her.

"If you cry anymore I will give you a reason to cry. And trust me when I say I will make it painful" Catherine stilled her heartbeat increased as she glared at him. She wiped her tears while trailing off her cheeks. Her hand throbbing she can see his fingerprint on her hand. 

After some time he came in with food. The whole ride was silent. He did not speak a word but the way he clutched the driving wheel she had a sinking feeling. 

He parks the car, "Get out". She did as he told her. 

Jeremy grabbed the food. He opened the door and dragged her with him. He opened the door and walked in. Catherine stilled and her hand became numb under his grip.

He left her at the door. And put the food on the table.  Catherine stood silent and she was looking at him from the corner of her eye.

"Jeremy?" 

Jeremy was ready to get out of there as soon as possible  but he stopped and turned to her.

"What happened?" She asked.

"Did you think that was funny?" Jeremy trapping her to the wall he hovered over her.

"What?" Catherine blinked her eyes. He slammed his hand over her head, she jumped.

"You lied" she stopped breathing the moment he said those words.


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